tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1443161883363295654.post1406416831562995739..comments2009-07-17T13:54:14.426-05:00Comments on Entanglement....: -The right choice? Part 1Phys Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09769359950064512603noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1443161883363295654.post-47960613880611672942008-09-01T10:12:00.000-05:002008-09-01T10:12:00.000-05:00Okham, I agree, students should shop around(which ...Okham, <BR/><BR/>I agree, students should shop around(which is what I did) but this also has cons.<BR/><BR/>I have been at 2 universities. One (current) top 20, the other very lowly ranked. There are many differences but I would say that in the top 20 they care more about the student than in the other one. However, here is what happens, at least in my experience:<BR/><BR/>1) Top 20 has a recruitment weekend (for accepted domestic students) where they can talk to professors, learn about their research and how nice they are. Not top 20 doesn't have anything like that, so you accept an offer without knowing what's waiting for you. Professor's websites are often not updated, and you don't get to talk to any students before your arrival. <BR/>Definitely, Top 20 is better, because, in principle, you get to test the waters. The problem is that on that particular weekend everybody is so cool. They treat students nicely, whatever the question you will get answer whose purpose is to get you to accept that offer. In August, when classes begin it turns out things weren't as nice as previously pictured.<BR/><BR/>Also, some professors talk about a particular area of research which they are no longer doing, and if you decide to join his/her group you'll be in for a big disappointment.<BR/><BR/>Things could be better than 15 years ago, but still it is no consolation. Why should there be a difference between a grad student and a professor? I remember that first day, during the department's orientation when we were told we were colleagues now. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Okham, thanks for the comment. I guess my blog must suck because you are the first to ever comment. You deserve a post.Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09769359950064512603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1443161883363295654.post-50252681045010016342008-09-01T06:04:00.000-05:002008-09-01T06:04:00.000-05:00I have witnessed professors that purposely keep st...<I>I have witnessed professors that purposely keep students from graduating... with no consideration for the student's future ... many professors ... keep their students as long as they can as TAs, demanding the same results as if the student were full time RA.</I><BR/><BR/>Yes, that happens. This is indeed one place where things are <I>badly</I> in need to be fixed. It may not be much of a consolation but, let me tell you -- it's nowhere near as bad as it was only 15 years ago. Graduate students used to be at the absolute mercy of their PhD advisor -- now there are often at least formal ways for them to complain, and while they are not perfect by any means, they are a starting point.<BR/>The disparity of treatment for graduate students who work under different advisors is a serious problem, and I am not sure how to fix that. You may be interested in knowing that sometimes advisors who support students off of their grant, buying them out of the teaching, face the resentment of faculty colleagues who cannot or do not want to do the same thing ("You are making us look bad with our own students").<BR/><BR/>In general, I think graduate students should learn to "shop around" for the right advisor, and switch to another one if they are not happy. The time spent with that advisor will be essentially wasted, but that is a lesser damage than sticking with someone with whom things are not working. <BR/>It is also very important to interview students who have been working with that advisor for some time, before deciding to join that person's group.okhamhttp://okham.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.com